Gentis togatæ cui regimen datum, Et mediis Helicon in undis, Horribiles barathri receffus. At fila rupit Persephone tua, Faucibus eripuiffe mortis. Colende Præfes, membra precor tua Molli quiefcant cefpite, et ex tuo Sit mite de te judicium Æaci, કુંવ 35 40 45 been Æfculapius, the tranfition would have been more eafy. But Æfculapius was fent by Apollo to Chiron, to be educated in that art. I think therefore, although Milton's allufions in these pieces are chiefly to established Grecian fable, we fhould here understand Virgil's JAPIs, who was Phaho ante alios dilectus, and to whom he imparted fuas artes, fua munera. ÆN. xii. 391. feq. It should be remembered, that the word Alumnus is more extensively, favourite, votary, &c. In Milton's Latin poems, it is often difficult to ascertain the names of perfons and places. To fhew his learning, he frequently clouds his meaning by obfcure or obfolete patronymics, and by the fubftitution of appellations formed from remote genealogical, historical, and even geographical allufions. But this was one of Ovid's affectations. Milton's habitual propenfity to claffical illuftration, more particularly from the Grecian ftory, appears even in his State-Letters written for Cromwell. In one of them, Cromwell congratulates king Charles Gustavus on the birth of a fon in the midst of other good news, 1655. In this, fays he, you refemble Philip of Macedon, who at one and the fame time received the tidings of Alexander's birth and the conqueft of the Illyrians, PR. W. ii. 445. 43. The thought is in Juvenal and Perfius. Subrideatque Subrideatque Ætnæa Proferpina; J In Quintum Novembris.* Anno Ætatis 17. AM pius extrema veniens Iäcobus ab arcto, Teucrigenas populos, lateque patentia regna Albionum tenuit, jamque inviolabile fœdus Sceptra Caledoniis conjunxerat Anglica Scotis: Pacificufque novo, felix divefque, fedebat In folio, occultique doli fecurus et hoftis : Cum ferus ignifluo regnans Acheronte tyrannus, Eumenidum pater, æthereo vagus exul Olympo, Forte per immenfum terrarum erraverat orbem, Dinumerans fceleris focios, vernafque fideles, Participes regni poft funera moesta futuros: Hic tempeftates medio ciet aëre diras, Illic unanimes odium ftruit inter amicos, Armat et invictas in mutua vifcere gentes; Regnaque olivifera vertit florentia pace : Et quofcunque videt puræ virtutis amantes, Hos cupit adjicere imperio, fraudumque magifter Tentat inacceffum fceleri corrumpere pectus; Infidiafque locat tacitas, caffefque latentes Tendit, ut incautos rapiat, ceu Cafpia tigris 5 10 15 20 * I have formerly remarked, that this little poem, as containing a council, confpiracy, and expedition of Satan, may be confi dered as an early and promising prolusion of Milton's genius to the PARADISE LOST. 15. Regnaque olivifera vertit florentia pace.] Olivifer is an Ovidian epithet, FAST. iii. 151. 遭 Primus OLIVIFERIS Romam deductus ab arvis. And in the IBIS, "OLIVIFERA Sicyone," v. 317. A great fault of the verfification of this poem is, that it is too monotonous, and that there is no intermixture of a variety of pauses. But it should be remembered, that young writers are misled by fpecious beauties. VOL. I. Rrr Infequitur Infequitur trepidam deferta per avia prædam Nocte fub illuni, et fomno nictantibus aftris. Ante expugnatæ credulia fæcula Trojæ. 25 30 35 At fimul hanc, opibufque et fefta pace beatam, Afpicit, et pingues donis Cerealibus agros, Quodque magis doluit, venerantem numina veri Sancta Dei populum, tandem fufpiria rupit Tartareos ignes et luridum olentia fulphur; Qualia Trinacria trux ab Jove claufus in Ætna Effat tabifico monftrofus ob ore Tiphoeus. Ignefcunt oculi, ftridetque adamantinus ordo Dentis, ut armorum fragor, ictaque cufpide cufpis. Atque pererrato folum hoc lacrymabile mundo 40 Invéni, dixit, gens hæc mihi fola rebellis, 23. Populos Summanus et urbes.] SUMMANUS is an obfolete and uncommon name for Pluto, or the god of ghofts and night, fummus manium, which Milton moft probably had from Ovid, FAST. vi. 731. The name occurs in Plautus, Cicero, Pliny, and other antient critics. "Albion a 27. Cui nomen dederat quondam Neptunia proles.] "giant, fon of Neptune, who called the [this] island after his own name, and ruled it forty four years. Till at length paffing "over into Gaul, in aid of his brother Leftrygon, against whom "Hercules was hafting out of Spain into Italy, he was there flain in fight, &c." Milton's HIST. ENGL. B. i. PROSE-WORKS, II. 2. Drayton has the fame fable, PoLYOLB. S. xviii. 31. At fimul hanc, opibufque et fefta pace beatam, &c.] The whole context is from Ovid's ENVY, METAM. ii. 794. -Tandem Tritonida confpicit arcem, Ingeniifque, OPIBUSQUE, ET FESTA PACE, virentem: Contem 50 Contemtrixque jugi, noftraque potentior arte. 61 65 His igitur tandem folenni more peractis, Nox fenis amplexus Erebi taciturna reliquit, Præcipitefque impellit equos ftimulante flagello, 70 48. Jamque pruinofas velox fuperaverat Alpes.] Mr. Steevens obferves, that this line is from Lucan, i. 183. Jam gelidas Cæfar curfu fuperaverat Alpes. 55. He defcribes the proceffion of the Pope to Saint Peter's church at Rome, on the eve of Saint Peter's day. 58. The orders of mendicant friars. Rrr 2 Captum 76 Captum oculis Typhlonta, Melanchætemque ferocem, 80 85 70. Præcipitefque impellit equos, &c.] See Note on COMUS, V. 554. And Ovid, EPIST. PONT. iii. 56. Sive pruinofi Noctis aguntur equi. And Sil. Italicus, xv. 285. Nox atro circumdata corpus amictu, Qur author has "Night's CAR," Parad. L. ix. 65. Where Bentley propofes CARE. Many of Bentley's emendations are acute : but he did not understand Milton's manner, nor the genius of the English language, or rather the genius of the language of English poetry. Compare Euripid. JoN. v. 1151. Schol. PHOENISS. V. 3. 71. Captum oculis Typhlonta, &c.] I believe Milton is the first poet who has given names to the horfes of Night. Spenser describes the colour of her four horfes, F. Q. i. v. 28. 20. 80. Affumptis micuerunt temporis canis, Barba finus promiffa tegit.] This reminds us of Satan's appearance to our Saviour in the form of an old man, in the wilderness. PARAD. REG. B. i. 497. And Satan, bowing low His GRAY DISSIMULATION, disappear'd. 84. Satan is here disguised like a cordelier, or Franciscan friar. 85. Feneftratis figens veftigia calceis.] That is, his.fhoes were torn, full of holes. Plautus fays, "Nulla FENESTRATION "domus." |